19

Lo the winter is past.

Mild and dewy morning.

Follows another lead from the transcripts down to the canal.

Winding black ribbon bordered with leaning alder trees.

Barges putt-putt along.

Smells of clinker, coal dust, gasoline.

Boats half sunken in the grey water.

Looking for a man with captain at the front of his name.

Barge which was painted dirty red.

White stripe on its funnel.

Walks the tow path but finds no boat of this description.

Captain sitting on a crate.

Though when he asks at other boats both are known.

Don’t suppose you know where he is?

Moves around should be here soon now it’s spring.

Anyone taken notice of a boy?

Stayed with him.

Sull young ’n.

Seventeen, eighteen year old.

Quiet like, anyways.

Sit on a hatch for hours without saying a word.

Watch the current.

Stare at the waterflies dancing their sun dance over the ripples.

Leaning over the rails.

Back arched just like a cat.

Beasts and birds are especially his friends.

Bend down to the ground and listen sometimes for hours.

Amongst the riverside grasses.

Watch ants for days.

Know what became of him?

Ever watched ants?

Kind that leave the merest blur behind them.

Spring up out of nothing one fine day and return there.

Best talk to the captain.

Thank ’ee.

Trundled along in a distracted state staring into the canal.

Murky river flowing sluggishly.

Animal carcasses, trash, rotting hulks and tree limbs.

Though as the sun climbs above the trees and its rays penetrate the surface a different water is revealed.

Clear and green with trailing moss braided over the gravel bars.

Rippled with the rises of fish.

Bends for a closer look.

Bream suddenly swam right up to me.

Peered at me with its round bird-like eyes and dived deep down into the water.

Standing again it is as if he sees this place for the first time.

Bushes, nettles and briars entangled along the silent waterway.

Tall bearded grass.

Gazed over the floating houses.

Linked to terra firma by flower-bedecked gangways.

Bird fluttered above its perch on a mossy stone.

Dove that art in the cleft.

Inspected the grass beneath.

Twisting progress of a caterpillar.

Itinerary of a file of ants.